ACT WORKFORCE READY PROGRAM

Join us on August 25th from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm at the First Security Bank Community Room to hear a guest speaker from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission​ as we discuss the ACT Workforce Ready Program.

We all have a stake in making our country more competitive and closing the skills gap that threatens to paralyze our economy. Change starts at the grassroots level, by providing a community-based framework that:

• Links workforce development to education
• Aligns with the economic development needs of communities, regions, and states
• Matches individuals to jobs based on skill levels

The foundation of a community's certification is based on individuals at the county level across the current, transitioning and emerging workforce earning an ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate®​ (ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC®) and employers recognizing​ the ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC®. The ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC® is a portable, industry-recognized credential that clearly identifies an individual's WorkKeys® skills in workplace documents, applied math and graphic literacy - skills required for 77 percent of jobs based on ACT JobPro database.

By participating in ACT's® Work Ready Communities initiative, counties, regions and states are helping:

• Business and industry know exactly what foundational skills they need for a productive workforce - and to easily communicate their needs
• Individuals understand what skills are required by employers - and how to prepare themselves for success
• Policymakers consistently measure the skills gap in a timely manner at the national, state and local levels
• Educators close the skills gap, via tools integrated into career pathways with stackable industry-recognized credentials
• Economic developers use an on-demand reporting tool to market the quality of their workforce